Matters of the Heart

February is a month filled with hearts and roses – and the perfect time to take stock of your heart health. Join Sarasota Memorial cardiovascular specialists 7:30 am-noon Wednesday, Feb. 16, for a Cardiac Health Fair, with free screenings, heart healthy meal samplings and expert advice on heart disease risk assessments, nutrition, smoking cessation, anti-coagulation and heart failure management, exercise guidelines, stress reduction, weight loss and more. At 10 am, Cardiologist Chippy Nalluri, MD, will present “Heart Disease – Proactive Risk Reduction.” The fair will be held in the hospital’s first floor auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, and is open to the public. Give-aways include heart healthy cookbooks from the American Heart Association to the first 100 guests. Registration required for screenings. Call (941) 917-7777 for a screening appointment or more information.

Special thanks to Jimmy Jay, whose music video is this month’s featured spotlight on our YouTube education channel. We love to hear from former patients and welcome your stories in any form – videos, letters, poems, songs. To ensure your privacy, please contact us before sending in your personal information.

Cardiovascular Disease SymposiumThe 7th annual Cardiovascular Symposium offers continuing education to health care providers and the community. The first full day of the symposium (7:30 am-4:30 pm, Feb. 4) and morning session of the second day (7:30 am-1 pm, Feb. 5) are designed for physicians and other health care providers (12 CMEs available). The public is invited to a free afternoon session (2-4:30 pm, Feb. 5). Both sessions will feature the latest trends, treatments and prevention strategies presented by physicians nationally and internationally recognized in the field of heart disease. For information or to RSVP, call (941) 917-6969.

Mental Health Series – ADHD, AddictionsJoin nationally recognized physician and researcher David V. Habif Jr., MD, for a series of free seminars on the biological, social and economic challenges in the mental health system. Lectures will be held 9:30 am-12:30 pm (registration 9 am) in Sarasota Memorial’s first floor auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. CEUs available for a fee. Upcoming: Feb 12: "ADHD - How We Think;" Feb. 26: "Addiction – How We Feel." RSVP: (941) 953-3477 or MHCCI.com

SafeRx campaign On Monday, Jan. 31, CEOs from 12 participating hospitals and four health departments from Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties gathered to make a public proclamation of their commitment to support a multi-faceted campaign to address Responsible Prescriptions Use. The health care leaders announced plans to work collaboratively with doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare providers to ensure professionals have the tools and education necessary to prescribe responsibly and help patients connect with community resources that specialize in addictions treatment. To learn more about the regional SafeRx campaign, visit www.CHIP4Health.org/saferx

Rock, Roll & Race - for a good cause!Are you an AC/DC Rock & Roll fan who likes racing? You can enjoy both – and support a good cause. Brian Johnson, front man for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Band AC/DC is serving as Grand Marshall of the Historic Sportscar Road Racing Season Opener – the Palm Beach Grand Prix and Speed Festival Feb. 10-13. For a donation of $35 that will benefit Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Inc., in honor of Sarasota Memorial’s Brian Johnson Music Therapy program, Brian will take anyone for a drive around the track. Charity rides are slated on Friday at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m. For more information, call the foundation at (941) 917-1286 or visit: http://www.hsrrace.com/

This newsletter is produced by Sarasota Memorial's team of healthcare professionals. You are receiving Health e-clicks because you either have joined our mailing list or were referred by a friend. We will protect your privacy and will not share your email address with other organizations. Click here to view our patient privacy practices. If you wish to be taken off our mailing list, Unsubscribe here, call 941-917-7777 or write to: Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, 1700 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida 34239.